"Mercy"

Ain’t seen nothin’ like it,

The cowboy said to me,

It took some strong persuadin’,

To get it told, you see.

But finally he said it,

And I could understand,

The reason he’s reluctant,

To describe it, find the sand,

But at last he told his story,

As I waited patiently,

He knew who threw the night loop,

And had rustled cows, you see.

But the friend he knew who did it,

Was just a wayward kid,

We knew he’d lost his daddy,

Might explain just what he did.

So we rode out there to see him,

Eased up on their place,

And sure enough in their corral,

Our brand on three white-face.

His Mama came outside first,

She thought he earned a trade,

And when she knew he stole ‘em,

Her smile was quick to fade.

And in just a minute,

The boy, he came out, too,

And said he was so sorry,

And what work could he do.

He’d drive back those three heifers,

He’d work to make things right,

If we would just forgive him,

For what he did that night.

Later as we rode away,

The cowboy said to me,

I’m glad you gave him mercy,

I hope that he can see,

That thievin’s not the right way,

And stealin’s not okay,

There are some who’d arrest him,

It would take years to pay.

What I said surprised him,

But the words I spoke were true,

That God had showed me mercy,

And it’s the least that I could do,

To pass along forgiveness,

‘Cause that’s what I’ve received,

And God asks us to share it,

Once we the truth believed.

We made sure that mama,

Had something for her pot,

And we made sure that young man,

Gave work for what he got.

That youngster made a cowboy,

In fact he’s a top hand,

He has a wife and family,

And owns a piece of land.

But best of all, the mercy,

That came so long ago,

Is something that he’s careful,

To others always show.

And we will not be sorry,

If we walk strong that way,

Show the same compassion,

And freely give away.

“…Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others…” (Colossians 3:13, NLT)
Everyone needs forgeness, and we are so relieved when we receive it. The emphasis of scripture is that we will give it away as freely as we have received it. That’s an amazing goal, and one that will take practice. There is also a need for the grace of God to actually get it done. Some hold grudges and resentment for many years before realizing that they are only penalizing themselves. God knows what it will take for us to be healed, and become a wounded healer for others.

Lord, help us pass along the forgiveness we have received from You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tim Cox, timcox.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.